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Tuesday, February 28, 2006

I'm so sick of this weather. I'm tired of being glad for a 50 degree day in

February. When will summer get here?But see, when it does warm up, I'll be the first to complain. *reminding self to

put a heavy duty air conditioning unit on lay-a-way--yes--LAY-A-WAY*Who wants to swealter? But who wants to freeze?Maybe the folk who own this building will get someone to clean up all of that

litter out there even if it is railroad property. I'd like to plant a garden. I already

bought the seeds. I got corn, peas, beans, sunflowers and some other types of

veggies and stuff. Even watermelon. The minute I plant something, we'll have

another frost. I just know it.There is some other stuff I would like to write but I won't.This Bloody Mary sure does make a good breakfast. I used V-8.Anyway, I should go upstairs and make my bed. I bought a new mattress pad. I

can't wait to lay on my soft and wonderful bed. I'm going to Target today to get

some new sheets. Hopefully they won't all be $40-$60 for 350 thread count.

Monday, February 27, 2006

This blog started out as a personal diary but I have started to do a little promotion--using press releases and stuff. (this keyboard is sticking at the space bar--grr!)I don't feel as if I can reveal enough. MY personal diary cannot be public (you should know why by now) so I will write what I feel is entertaining--commentary on news stories and stuff.Anyway, I have turned my townhouse into studio. I have artwork in progress in the living room, no dining room table, no couch. Just a computer, television, chairs etc.Well I gotta go do my hair so I can do momma's hair later.Later.

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

I saw the press conference for the winners of the $365 million Powerball lottery on Fox News this morning. (I WISH I had goods and services they could buy. Congratulations. i am soo happy for them!)No, really--spend it well. Here is the relesed statement:

February 22, 2006 — A group of eight coworkers at the ConAgra Foods ham and corned beet plant in Lincoln, has claimed the record $365 million jackpot from the February 18 Powerball drawing.The group elected to take the cash option on the jackpot, valued at $177.3 million. Their respective shares will be $22,162,500. After withholding of 25 percent federal and 5 percent state tax, they will share $124.11 million or $15.5 million, respectively.The members of the group are:Quang Dao, 56David Gehle, 53Alain Maboussou, 26Chasity Rutjens, 29Robert Stewart, 30Michael Terpstra, 47Dung Tran, 34Eric Zornes, 40The group is represented by Lincoln attorney, James H. Hoppe.Before presenting the group with their prize, Gov. Dave Heineman noted the attention generated by the record jackpot and said, “Since its inception, the Nebraska Lottery has quietly raised more than $244 million for its beneficiary funds like K-12 education.“I am pleased to have an opportunity to meet this lucky group of hard-working Nebraskans and present them with their share of these winnings.“Ladies and gentlemen, life just got a bit more interesting for eight Nebraskans.”The group bought their winning ticket, one of eight (8) five-play quick pick tickets worth a total of $40, at U-Stop at 110 West “O” St., in Lincoln, at 3:09 p.m. on Friday, Februar 17.Members of the group told Nebraska Lottery officials that some of them have been playing Powerball for up to five years, pooling their resources to buy multiple tickets whenever the jackpot eclipses $45 million. Each has contributed $5 at a time to buy a total of eight five-play quick pick tickets for each drawing. They noted the irony of waiting to play when their respective shares of the prize after taxes will be just more than $15 million, which is the minimum starting jackpot for Powerball.Dung Tran typically bought the group’s tickets, usually at the same location. He learned of their winning ticket by checking the Nebraska Lottery Players Hotline (800-224-LUCK) at about 4:30 a.m. the morning after the drawing. The winning Powerball numbers for February 18 were: 15, 17, 43, 44, 48 and Powerball 29.While none of the group has formulated specific plans for their prize, potential actions mentioned to Nebraska Lottery officials included, “Wash my truck,” “Pay bills”, “Get some sleep,” and, “Continue working temporarily” until their spot is filled.*now that's really nice of them*

Yea for Shani AGAIN! He won a silver Olympic metal Tuesday February 21 in the men's 1500 meter speed skating competition. American team mate, Chad Hedrick won a bronze--but he also holds a world record.Now that's teamwork!Tally up seven gold metals for the U.S.A.--one of them handed to us by Shani.Another country won the gold in the 1500 speed skating competition.Please follow the link on the title to find out more details about the Olympic games. They are turning out to be exciting. Remember, the Olympic competitions are to generate a spirit of camaraderie amongst the nations.No fighting or bad sportsmanship allowed.

Friday, February 10, 2006

An independent survey by social dating website TeamDating.com, polled 500 married men and 500 single men ages 25-40 years old and found they think alike.Apparently, St. Valentine's Day puts them off.Whether married for years, or still looking for Mrs. Right, men seemed to agree that the expectations of the day are too high.The survey, conducted in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA found ninety-one percent of married men said it was their least favorite say due to the expectations of topping what they did the previous year.

*or that they have to do anything at all*

The survey also found: • 97% said that they plan what they are going to do the weekend before • 94% said that any money spent on this day is a waste of money • 72% said they plan on giving a gift certificate • 4% of the men said they feel that the Holiday isn't even intended for men

As far as the bachelors, ninety-nine percent said they felt it was just another day.

Of the single men surveyed: • 97% said it was their least favorite Holiday of the year • 99% said to them it’s just another day • 86% said they will go out and try too find single girls that are out as well • 89% could not remember what they did the year before • 93% didn’t even know that it fell on February 14th every year

"The overall disdain for the Holiday seems to be caused by the over expectations that women have placed on the meaning of what is done that day, or better yet, what is not done that day," explained Teamdating.com Chief Dating Officer Ray Doustdar, an expert in relationships and the online dating market. "Men feel that no matter what they do, it won't be enough. Some try and take a creative approach with something out of the ordinary, but most fall back on the old reliable such as flowers and candy," he said."If you are going to get flowers, get them from a different florist so they are not a carbon copy of what you gave for their birthday or another recent event", Doustdar, said.*I have no comment*

NEW YORK CITY (Army News Service 2006) Operation Love Our Troops, billed as a "Guinness Book of World Records" attempt to create the largest digital Valentine for America's troops, took center stage this week in Times Square.The campaign received more than 10,000 messages from around the world since it was launched Jan. 4. "It's a joint effort between Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit military support group, and Library of Life.org, a digital scrapbooking Web site whose pages include numerous tributes to fallen service members.

*handsome Brig. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Chief, Public Affairs, U.S. Army*Organizers said they hoped their presence in Times Square would give a significant boost to the number of signatures by Feb. 14. "This will be the largest digital Valentine's Day card ever sent to the troops," said Amanda Hale, vice president of communications for Library of Life.org. "They already have over 13,000 signatures and expect to eventually have 20-25,000 in total when the card will be sent."In addition to grabbing the attention of passersby, the campaign was featured on the CBS Early Show, ABC's Good Morning America and the NBC Today Show.

*handsome older brother of Vincent, Brig. Gen. Leo Brooks, Jr.*Operation Love Our Troops set up camp on Military Island, home to the Armed Forces Recruiting Station and site of the iconic Life magazine photograph of a sailor planting a movie-star kiss on a nurse on the day World War II ended.

Volunteers from Soldiers' Angels and Library of Life were on hand to help people add their messages of support to the troops.

"I have a step dad in the Air National Guard who is deployed, so this means a lot to me," said Michelle New, a Soldiers' Angels volunteer from Cookstown, N.J.

Among those sending their messages of support was New York-based actor Hecter Ubarry, who will appear in the upcoming Bruce Willis feature "16 Blocks" in March."My nephew's in the Navy Reserve and he's deployed to Iraq, and my godson is in the Navy and he's also headed to the gulf," said Ubarry. "I worry about them. I hope the whole thing over there is resolved soon. I don't want to see any more of our troops killed."

Angela Spivey, an office worker in Midtown Manhattan, took some time during her lunch break to sign the Valentine.

"I just wanted to say hello and remind the troops that people are thinking of them," Spivey said. "I think it's sweet that they're doing this for the troops."

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Reinhardt and Caroline Bernabei of Army Public Affairs, New York submitted this report.

Give your love, support and Valentines to the ones who protect our country.*who can tell i just wanted to show the generals' photos? happy v-day*

Thursday, February 09, 2006

I'm just a fan--only a fan. I wanted all of my favorite artists to win big at this year's Grammy Awards but they didn't. They just won. They won in their respective catagories. I wanted the big win because they seemed to want the big win.But I got my own problems. The world of a celebrity is entertainment and relaxation for me. I'm not getting myself into trouble, getting pregnant, dating married or otherwise engaged men, annoying anyone blah, blah, blah.And, these are just my stupid little opinions.I bought the John Legend cd (even my seven year old son appreciates the calming tinkle of the piano--or he's just f***** with me), the Jamie Foxx cd and the Kanye West cd. West got some Hip Hop chops. He has lyrics. It's not just a rap style. (There is a difference between Hip Hop--as in culture and rap--a rhythmic style of word delivery).If you caught the show Foxx and West put on, well, what else can be said?We are past the college age and the pagentry of bands but those collegic memories are the roses. I love roses. The lack of sleep and nighmares of being hired and not actually being able to perform the duties of the job, are the thorns.Or, it could just be me. I but like the roses.I loved what those two did with the roses. I would have liked to watch the making of and the backstory of how they came about it.Anyway, I have included the fan web sites of the two men.Congradulations on your Grammy Awards Mr. West and I look forward to your continued success because us fans get something out of it too.I have to mention that the joke thank you list dropped like dead weight. It was totally missed.Maybe I should get a life. Nah.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

The GRAMMY Awards - the music industry's premier event - will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at www.grammy.yahoo.com. *Kanye West is so cute.*The Recording Academy® announced this week multiple GRAMMY® winner/rapper/mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter will perform with GRAMMY-winning rockers Linkin Park -nominated for a GRAMMY for their groundbreaking collaboration ("Numb/Encore") - for what is destined to be an electrifying performance. Newly announced presenters include GRAMMY nominee Alicia Keys and comedian/actor Dave Chappelle. Nominee Anoushka Shankar - up for Best Contemporary World Music Album (Rise) - will perform during the GRAMMY Pre-Telecast ceremony.*Jamie Foxx is so sexy.*These outstanding artists join previously announced performers Mariah Carey, John Legend and Kanye West - all with eight nominations each; Madonna with Gorillaz; Paul McCartney; Kelly Clarkson; Bruce Springsteen; U2 and Mary J. Blige; Coldplay; Faith Hill and Keith Urban; Christina Aguilera and Herbie Hancock; Sugarland; Jamie Foxx with Kanye West; an all-star tribute to Sly And The Family Stone featuring Maroon 5, Will.I.Am of The Black Eyed Peas, Robert Randolph, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Joss Stone, John Legend, Ciara and Devin Lima; and nominee Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Choir join Mariah Carey.Previously announced presenters include Big & Rich, Chris Brown, Michael Bublé, Common, Jenna Elfman, Destiny's Child, Matt Dillon, Tom Hanks, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Terrence Howard, Queen Latifah, Ludacris, Bonnie Raitt, and James Taylor. *I am such a boy-crazy teenager.*But seriously, they will be two of the HOTTEST men on the awards show tonight.I will post pics of other men who are cute and sexy too. (No, really I am over the age of 21)

If you've ever heard of the phrase champagne taste on a beer budget, you've found me. I make soap from scratch because regular soap does not agree with my skin, I recreate restaurant meals at home, create appliances I cannot install or afford (yet,) and in general, I figure out a way from no way. I pray a lot too. Join me on my journey. It will be fun.

Everything you see me do is for entertainment purposes only. All of my experiments are for my purposes only. It's fun to watch.

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I realize this blog has evolved into a newspaper archive of sorts--and that is fine--but I spend lots of time searching for this information. While I'm glad you find it useful, please feel free to donate once, if you care. Or buy a radio ad spot for your blog. Or buy one of my books.When I worked, there were a lot fewer entries.Once again, I'm glad my blog helps you with your research. And no, it isn't your fault I got fired;>

William James McCloud III

I hadn't heard anything on the Fourth of July holiday and that was strange. I had the urge to call the day before but since I have a history of being pushy, I let it go.
On the fifth, my birthday, it was my obligation to find out what was going on. It wasn't like Bill to not want to light firecrackers with little Billy on the holiday--it was a yearly debate.
I hoped he wasn't in jail. Illness had not crossed my mind. I thought he was the picture of good health but the things we think can be wrong.
Lauren's Birthday party June 14--the last time we were all together.
He was in the hospital.
William James McCloud III died July 15, 11 days after entering the hospital--after telling his wife Jennifer he wasn't feeling well.
Bill left work early that Wednesday, after consuming an energy drink. Apparently he was having a heart attack. His arteries were blocked.
Bill was only 38 years old. His birthday is next month and his mother tells me a big celebration had been planned.
Bill was my husband. He is the father of my two children. Even though we decided to live separate lives, we still cared for each other. We cared enough to let each other live in peace and stop the fighting. We got along because we wanted to.
Now, he is gone and I feel my former better half has left me alone. When in personal crisis, he was my go-to-guy.
Goodbye, Bill you are loved and I will make you proud and bring honor to your good name.
In Love,
Lauren, Billy and Leslie

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